While moving to Germany from California was true culture shock, there were elements that I truly loved!

The Greenness

It’s everywhere—lush, vibrant, and completely indescribable.

The History

Everywhere you look, history surrounds you:

• Castles
• Cathedrals
• Cobblestone streets
• Roman ruins
• Historic houses and mansions

The People

Though they can be direct and meticulous, Germans are incredibly forgiving when it comes to Americans’ struggles with speaking other languages. They’ll go out of their way to communicate, even using hands and gestures if necessary—try finding that kind of patience in the States!

• Lack of Bigotry: While no place is perfect, I found that, overall, people aren’t judged by the color of their skin.
• Friendship: If you’re in need, a German friend will give you the shirt off their back—or even their firstborn! Once you have a friend in Germany, they’re a friend for life.

The Autobahn

It’s not entirely true that there are no speed limits, but on some stretches at certain times…

The roads are incredibly well maintained and culturally, the Germans love, respect and take awfully good care of their cars (they should teach the Parisians!)

Follow the rules on the road and not only will you feel safe, you will love to appreciate the etiquette

wow! The first time I passed a police officer going over 100 MPH, I thought my stomach was going to leap out of my head.

Vacation Time

The average vacation time is around 29 days per year, plus more public holidays than you can imagine. While this isn’t unique to Germany, it was my first experience with such generous time off—and it’s life-changing! 

This is a pretty big word, but while moving to Germany from California was true culture shock, some bits were MUCH harder than others!

Service

Oh boy—service as we know it in the U.S. doesn’t really exist here. If you’re expecting attentive, customer-first service, you might want to lower your expectations. It’s a stark contrast to what you’d find in the States!

Stiffness

It often feels like living among a nation of Spocks—rigid, by-the-book, and sometimes lacking flexibility. If something doesn’t work the first time, the solution seems to be banging your head against the wall until it works or you give up. The puzzled look you get when suggesting an alternative? “But that’s how it’s done!”

Bureaucracy

This is truly the land of endless paperwork and waiting in line. Be prepared to go from one office to another, pulling numbers and filling out forms. It’s all very efficient but painfully slow—see my earlier point on service!

Rules and Regulations

• BBQing: Want to have a BBQ? Sure, but don’t forget to notify your neighbors 24 hours in advance! Oh, and you’re legally limited to three BBQs a year.
• Sundays: Sundays are sacred—the day of rest. That means no noise, not even in your own home. If your neighbors hear anything, expect a knock on the door.

You can’t really appreciate a country until you stop comparing and just accept it for what it is, that said, there were some things that I took at life lessons

People

At the core, we all share the same desires—peace, harmony, and the chance to spend time with family and friends. No matter where we come from or what cultural “protection” we put up (whether it’s American shallowness or German bluntness), deep down, we all work towards the same goal. We all see the miracle in children, work hard to provide for our loved ones, and strive for a better life. The differences are only on the surface; underneath, we’re all human. This version maintains your original message while enhancing clarity and flow. Let me know if you’d like any further adjustments!

Miss you vector sign

Miss you vector sign[/caption]While moving to Germany from California was true culture shock, there were elements that I truly misssed from Cali!

Service

I’m not kidding—OI!!! What I would give to be thanked for coming to a shop and asked to come again! Or, pray tell, to ask for a refill in a restaurant without worrying that the server might come back with a knife to end my miserable insensitivity. American customer service may be over-the-top at times, but I miss that friendly attitude and the sense of being appreciated as a customer.

American Television

I know it’s a horrible thing to admit, but ah! I miss the little things—Friends, Ally McBeal, Frasier, those ridiculous B-movies in the middle of the night, and Saturday morning cartoons. There’s just something comforting about having that constant stream of (sometimes cheesy) entertainment at your fingertips. (granted, this statement, DEFINITELY dates when I moved there…)

The Food

It’s not that German food is bad—quite the contrary! But there are some things you just can’t replace:

• In-N-Out Animal Style: I’m not kidding—that is what a hamburger is all about!
• Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwiches: Horsey AND BBQ sauce? Yes, please.
• Burritos, Tacos, Fish Tacos: Proper Mexican food or even just the ingredients to make it myself.
• Neighborhood BBQs: I miss the smell of grilling meat wafting through the air and that friendly neighborhood vibe where everyone comes together over food.

And don’t even get me started on beef jerky. It’s too hard to get your hands on a smoker here, and with all the BBQ rules in Germany, I can’t imagine what the neighbors would say if I tried!

The Beach

Okay, I agree this isn’t U.S.-specific, but I lived in Huntington Beach, California before moving here! There’s nothing quite like being close to the ocean—the sound of waves crashing, the salty breeze, the occasional dolphin surfing the waves and those long sunsets over the water. It’s something I’ll always miss.

While moving to Germany from California was true culture shock, there were elements that I weren’t apparent to me while, there, but I am truly glad I found an alternative (maybe this IS why I will always be a Misplaced American)

“International News”

People tell me it is worse now, Fake News wasn’t a term when I left, but WOW, it seems Real News is hard to come by…

Unless you’re talking about the next county over, you’re mostly out of luck. The only time global events seem to make it into the news cycle is when the world is coming to an end—or at least when it feels like it might be.

Shallowness

Nothing personal—I’m American, so I’ll admit I have a tendency to be shallow myself. But there’s something refreshing about living in a place where conversations often go deeper than surface-level pleasantries.

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow Mentality

The constant rush to move on to the next big thing or trend can feel exhausting. In Germany, I’ve found a greater appreciation for stability and tradition—things that don’t just disappear overnight.

Selfishness

It’s not that selfishness doesn’t exist everywhere (we’re all human, after all), but there’s a cultural difference in how people approach community and collective responsibility. In Germany, there’s more emphasis on thinking beyond oneself.

Keeping Up with the Joneses

The incredible passion for keeping up appearances or outdoing your neighbors is something I don’t miss at all. Life feels less about competition here and more about finding balance and contentment.

2024 Update

It’s odd—I was just looking to update my site and came across this, originally written in the late ’90s. Upon reflection, some of these things might actually be more extreme now than they were back then.